Chapter Twenty-One: A Heavy Bounty

Pingkang Ward, "Heaven on Earth."

In the Number One Heavenly Suite, the air was thick with the languid, intoxicating melodies of strings and flutes. Zhao Mu reclined on a daybed, admiring the graceful movements of a newly arrived dancer. This young woman was someone Zhao Mu had spent a small fortune to rescue from the Ministry of Rites’ Music Bureau only a few days ago. She was the daughter of a minor official whose entire family had been executed after her father became entangled in a major scandal. As a female dependent, she had naturally been consigned to the Music Bureau.

Zhao Mu had chanced upon her while she was being led away in tears. Moved by her pitiable state, he had impulsively paid the price to secure her freedom and brought her back to "Heaven on Earth." It was certainly a better fate than being subjected to the whims of the lecherous officials at the Music Bureau. After all, his establishment was merely a place for scholars and dignitaries to unwind; the girls here were only required to perform, never to sell their bodies.

When she first arrived, the girl had been fiercely defiant, vowing to die rather than submit. It was only after learning the rules of the house that she settled down, becoming utterly obedient to her savior. In just a few short days, she had mastered complex dance techniques with remarkable proficiency—perhaps, Zhao Mu mused, she had possessed some foundation to begin with. Watching her performance improve, he decided he could arrange for her debut the following day. He sipped his wine, idly pondering what stage name would suit her best.

Suddenly, the rapid clatter of horse hooves echoed from outside the building. Who could be so audacious as to gallop through Pingkang Ward in the dead of night? And judging by the sound, they were heading straight for "Heaven on Earth."

Expecting more trouble, Zhao Mu stretched and rose from his couch. His establishment had strict rules, but the entertainment he offered was so addictive that it often drew unwanted attention from arrogant, hot-blooded young nobles who, unable to get what they wanted, would come to cause a scene. Accustomed to such occurrences, Zhao Mu prepared to head out and deal with the disturbance.

Before he could even command the girls to stop their performance, Crown Prince Li Chengqian burst into the suite with an expression of extreme urgency.

"Brother Zhao!" Seeing Zhao Mu, Li Chengqian didn't hesitate to wave his attendants away. With his boots still wet from the night dew, he strode into the inner room and approached Zhao Mu. "Something terrible has happened! It’s Hou Junji..."

Seeing the panic on the Crown Prince's face, Zhao Mu frowned and raised a hand to cut him off. "Your Highness, don't put my girls in danger. Let them leave first."

Knowing that any mention of Hou Junji combined with Li Chengqian’s frantic state meant serious trouble, and recalling a major development he had learned about the Duke of Chen’s estate just an hour ago, Zhao Mu didn't want his staff—whom he had worked so hard to train—to be silenced by the imperial authorities. He had no patience for the Crown Prince at that moment.

"Oh?" Li Chengqian blinked, only then noticing the musicians and dancers. He didn't take offense at Zhao Mu’s bluntness. Seeing Zhao Mu’s calm demeanor, his own agitation began to subside. His gaze drifted to the lead dancer, and his brows twitched. Why did this pitiable little girl look so familiar? Before he could place her, Zhao Mu gestured for the women to withdraw.

"Very well, Your Highness. Tell me, what has you so rattled?" Zhao Mu asked, sinking back onto his couch without offering a bow. "Has that scoundrel Hou Junji been up to his old tricks again?"

"Brother Zhao is right," Li Chengqian said, taking a seat on another daybed. He leaned in close and lowered his voice, speaking with an air of mystery. "I don't know what has gotten into that man. He came to the Eastern Palace in the dead of night to see me, and he had the audacity to suggest rebellion again!"

"What?" Zhao Mu’s hand, mid-way to his lips with a wine cup, froze. His eyes were filled with astonishment. "Good heavens, the man has truly lost his mind! He is barely keeping his own head, yet he dares to incite you to revolt? Isn't he just trying to drag you down with him?"

"Huh?" Li Chengqian, unaware of the hidden details, asked in confusion, "Brother Zhao, you say the Duke of Chen is... barely keeping his head? That can't be right, surely?"

He continued, looking incredulous: "Just days ago, the entire imperial court impeached him over the Gaochang Kingdom affair. Though my father had him detained at the Supreme Court, he was released just last night! It is said that my father personally took my uncle to the prison to pardon him and restore his official rank. It seems the Duke carries great weight in my father’s heart. How could he be in such peril?"

Zhao Mu shook his head. "Does the Crown Prince still doubt my judgment? Even though His Majesty has released him, in my view, this matter is far from simple."

Zhao Mu paused, lost in thought. He had known about Hou Junji’s release and the restoration of his rank since the morning, and he was even aware that the treasures of Gaochang had been bestowed upon him. What had puzzled him was why Hou Junji—who in history had been imprisoned for a long time and demoted—had been released so quickly and even gained from his misfortune.

He had sent men to investigate, and though they hadn't uncovered the official truth, they had witnessed Hou Junji’s personal guard, Wang Meng, being swiftly subdued and abducted by a group of mysterious, highly skilled warriors in black armor. Before leaving, those men had inspected the crates Wang Meng was carrying, which were filled with black iron armor used by the Imperial Guards.

The pieces had clicked into place for Zhao Mu. Hou Junji had clearly been caught hoarding forbidden military equipment and had attempted to move it out of his estate, only to be intercepted by someone who had been watching him all along. That was why Zhao Mu was so certain: Hou Junji was already walking a path to his own destruction.